Pages

Sunday, March 11, 2012

The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa- Review

My excuses are legion for not starting this series sooner. I would submit my towering pile of to-be-read books as exhibit A, the ENDLESS line to see Julie at the BEA (I did honestly consider it, I knew I wanted Iron Knight, but thought it would be unfair to all those who'd already read the other three, the line did have a cut off point after all), and of course the commitment of a four book series that I knew once I started I would require all of it immediately for my reading pleasure.

Anywho, the perfect reading storm came together this week. After reading two less than stellar review books, back to back, and needing something I was guaranteed to love as my next read, coupled with Chapters buy 3 get 1 free sale, lead to the fulfillment of the Iron Fey series on my shelves at long last. And as anticipated they've eaten my life up. There has been no grocery shopping, no laundry, and much belated blogging, as well as a *gasp* offline day, because of my total absorption in these books. And I've loved every minute of it.

Meghan Chase has the most dismal of teenage existence. Living in a small town, on a pig farm, and barely remembered by her family, even as she stands in the same room as them, she is clinging to thought of her 16th birthday and the promise of the freedom of a license. Who would guess she'd discover she's a Faery Princess before she's able to get the license? Sadly, that's not nearly as romantic as it sounds, and the realty is it's dangerous, scary, and full of mishaps, often with a very unavailable Prince of Winter. Will Meghan survive the challenges her new heritage has set before her?

Puck has always been a beloved character to me. I love seeing him crop up in YA and Middle school books, and he's inevitably my favorite character of whatever story he pops his head into. Kagawa's Puck is a bit tamer than I've seen in awhile but I love seeing the more serious side of him. The triangle that starts forming between Meghan, Puck and Prince Ash is a fun one, especially with the animosity between Ash and Puck.

But the icy Unseelie Prince Ash is an equally enrapturing character. I adore the roller coaster with him, where you never know where anyone stands and the danger rolls off of him in waves. The hints that he's one of the "good ones" in the court is tempting and intriguing, but something you're never quite sure of.

Meghan is easily lovable. She's wildly out of her depths in the Summer Court, but shes so determined to see through finding her brother, you can't help but root for her. She's a gutsy heroine, and although she wears her heart on her sleeve, you're on the edge of your seat waiting of her big underdog moment to come.

The Iron King is a whirlwind story, and by the end I couldn't move on to Iron Daughter fast enough. If like me, you've somehow not gotten around to starting this series, then I suggest you clear you calendar for a few days and dig in.